Marijuana Legalization – What Does it Mean for Athletes in Colorado and Washington?

Last week, Colorado and Washington voted to legalize recreational use of marijuana. That's great and all, but what does this mean for college and professional athletes from those states?

Nothing has changed when it come to athletes. An NCAA statement says:

The legalizing of marijuana in Colorado and Washington does not impact the NCAA drug-testing rules. The NCAA banned-drug and testing policies are not tied to whether a substance is legal for general population use, but rather whether the substance is considered a threat to student-athlete health and safety or the integrity of the game.

Tobacco use is prohibited as well, along with several over-the-counter items like Sudafed, Muscle Milk, Airborne, and some flavors of Vitamin Water.

Professional athletes aren't free to light one up either. NFL and NBA officials both told USA Today that marijuana will remain a prohibited substance according to the league's anti-drug policies.